Need to bring terror sponsors to book: India, Russia,China

New Delhi – India, Russia and China Sunday stressed that terrorism is a threat to international peace and security, and underlined the need to bring to justice the perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of terrorist acts.

In a joint communique issued after a trilateral dialogue among the foreign ministers of Russia, India and China (RIC) here, the three leaders – Sergei Lavrov, Salman Khurshid, and Wang Yi – said the platform was to foster closer cooperation in identified areas among the three countries.

“They stressed that this cooperation was not directed against any other country. They expressed their resolve to strengthen the trilateral dialogue for consultation and coordination on regional and global issues of mutual interest in the spirit of openness, solidarity, mutual understanding ,and trust,” it said.

They agreed to remain engaged with each other with a view to strengthening the central role of the UN in maintaining international peace and security and ensuring steady social and economic development.

On Syria, they welcomed the agreement reached between Russia and the US on the destruction of chemical weapon stockpiles and urged for early convening of the Geneva II conference and to bring all Syrian parties to the conflict to the negotiating table. The ministers reiterated that there is no military solution to the conflict.”

On Afghanistan, they “acknowledged that the main threat to Afghanistan’s security, stability and prosperity is terrorism, radicalism and violent extremism.

They stressed upon the need for joint and concerted efforts to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including elimination of terrorist bases and safe havens and cutting off all financial and tactical support to terrorism.”

The ministers reiterated that the national reconciliation in Afghanistan should be Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-driven. They also expressed concern about the scale of illicit drug production and trafficking in Afghanistan.

They also agreed to prevent proliferation of nuclear weapons and contribute actively to strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

The ministers called for early resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue through political and diplomatic means.

On the UN, they reaffirmed the need for a comprehensive reform of the UN, including its security council, with a view to making it more effective, efficient and representative, so that it can deal with today’s global challenges more successfully, the statement said.

The ministers reiterated the importance attached by their countries to cooperation within BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

The foreign ministers of China and Russia supported India’s active engagement with and positive contributions to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

On the Asia-Pacific, the three “stressed the need to develop an open, inclusive and transparent security architecture in the Asia Pacific region based upon universally agreed principles of international law.

They underscored the importance of the East Asia Summit as a forum for dialogue and cooperation.

The foreign ministers of Russia and China appreciated India’s active role and contribution to further the goals and objectives of Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).